Paul’s Missionary Journeys In Turkey & The Seven Churches Of Revelation

Jan 13 Sat Departure – Fly Istanbul
We’ll meet at the ATLANTA Airport to check in for our non-stop, transatlantic flight to Istanbul.

Jan 14 Sun Arrive Istanbul
Welcome to Turkey! We arrive in Istanbul by late afternoon where our waiting bus takes us to our comfortable hotel. We end our long travel day with a delicious meal and a good night of sleep. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B,D)

Jan 15 Mon Istanbul
The prospect of exciting and exotic places to visit gives us new energy. Our first day in the historic city of Istanbul begins at the Hagia Sophia (the church of “Holy Wisdom”)—the crowning achievement of the sacred building program of Emperor Justinian, the 6th-century head of the Christian Byzantine Empire. This great domed structure (now used as a mosque) remains one of the most impressive sacred edifices ever constructed to the glory of God. We also visit the Blue Mosque which was built during the years 1609-1616 and which was intended to compete with the impressive beauty of the Hagia Sophia. Inside, the famous blue-and-white tile work from which the mosque gets its nickname, is bathed in light from 260 windows. Nearby is located the Hippodrome which once stood in the heart of the Byzantine city of Constantinople and originally held up to 100,000 people. Although little is left of this gigantic stadium, there are a number of impressive columns and other structures situated at the site. We then head underground to the Basilica Cistern, a vast water cistern located underneath the city. The cistern’s roof is held up by 336 columns of over 26 feet high. Visitors tread walkways to the mixed sounds of classical music and dripping water, making this perhaps the most unusual tourist attraction in Istanbul. We then enjoy a beautiful Boat Tour on the Bosphorus Sea. This is a relaxing and excellent vantage point to view Istanbul’s many famous landmarks that dot both its European and Asian shores. We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Jan 16 Tue Istanbul – Fly Cappadocia
Our day begins with a morning Easter worship service at the hotel. We then visit the Archeological Museum which houses spectacular finds from all over Turkey, including many items that relate to biblical history. Next we proceed to the nearby Hagia Eirene (“Church of Holy Peace”), built in 324 AD on the site of Aphrodite’s temple and dedicated by Emperor Constantine as the city’s first church and main cathedral until the completion of Hagia Sophia in 360 AD. The second of the Seven Ecumenical Councils was held here in 381 AD. This was one of the more important councils, making ten additions to the Nicene Creed and affirming the deity of the Holy Spirit. Our final stop is the impressive Topkapi Palace. This elaborate complex of buildings and gardens, originating in the 15th century and greatly expanded over the following centuries, now is a museum that houses important artifacts and treasures relating to Turkish life and history during the Ottoman Empire. We then head to the Istanbul airport for late afternoon flight to Kayseri and magical region of Cappadocia. After landing in Kayseri, a short drive brings us to our hotel and dinner. (B,D)

Jan 17 Wed Cappadocia
*Optional Hot Air Balloon Trip in early morning 05:00am-07:00am. The remarkable region of Cappadocia is where the erosion of soft volcanic stone has created bizarre yet beautiful geological formations—rock cones, capped pinnacles, stark ravines and steep precipices. The Göreme Open Air Museum, declared by UNESCO to be a World Heritage Site, contains some 30 or more churches built by carving rooms out of the soft volcanic tufa. These churches date from the 9th century onwards and feature superb Byzantine frescoes of biblical and early Christian scenes. We will also visit the Underground city of Kaymakli. This is one of around 40 underground cities whose use dates back to the 5th century BC, which were extensively occupied by Christians during the Byzantine period. In the afternoon, we will have time for shopping and to visit pottery making village of Avanos. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B,D)

Jan 18 Thu Cappadocia, Lystra, Iconium (Konya)
We reluctantly leave the magical region of Cappadocia for the three-hour drive to Konya. On the way, we will make a short visit to the ancient city of Lystra. Today, it contains little left of its former glory. Yet it is another important site in Paul’s life, since here too the apostle ministered on each of his three missionary journeys (Acts 14:5-20; Acts 16:6; 18:23) and was the home town of his closest helper, Timothy. Arrive modern Konya, known in the ancient world as Iconium, was a key place where Paul ministered not only on his first missionary journey (Acts 14:1-7) but almost certainly on his second and third missionary journeys as well (Acts 16:6; 18:23). We stop briefly at Alaadin Tepesis—the current location of one of the oldest mosques in the city but more importantly the acropolis of ancient Iconium. The columns in the mosque date back to Roman times and so connect us to the ministry of Paul in this city. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Konya. (B,D)

Jan 19 Fri Iconium (Konya), Antioch of Pisidia, Atallia (Antalya)
We travel next to an even more important city in Paul’s first missionary journey: Antioch of Pisidia (not to be confused with Antioch on the Orontes). Archaeological excavations have uncovered the remains of a thriving city, complete with theater, imperial temple, stadium, baths, water fountains, paved streets and aqueduct. This Antioch included Christians to whom Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians. We visit both the ruins of the ancient city as well as its small museum in Yalvac, which contains the important Sergius Paulus inscription and the famous funerary inscription of Caesar Augustus. We then enjoy the scenic drive south over the Taurus Mountains to Antalya, a popular resort town on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Antalya. (B,D)

Jan 20 Sat Perge, Aspendos, Atallia (Antalya)
Located ten miles east of Antalya is the ancient city of Perge, where Paul landed after sailing from the island of Cyprus during his first missionary journey (Acts 14:13-14). That Perge was a wealthy city is still easily seen today from its 15,000- seat theatre, 12,000-seat stadium, Hellenistic gate with its “Twin Towers,” baths with under-floor heating, colonnaded marketplace, water fountains, and impressive colonnaded street with a flowing water channel in the middle. A little further east is Aspendos, which is impressive for both its magnificent aqueduct and its 20,000-seat theatre which is the best-preserved in the whole of Turkey. We then return to Antalya, which in Paul’s day was known as Atallia and was the place from where the apostle sailed home at the end of his first missionary journey (Acts 14:25-26). In the heart of the old town we will visit St. Paul Cultural Center, a “coffee shop” run by Christians that more importantly also serves as home to two churches: one Turkish and the other international. Enjoy a tasty lunch (a modest donation for the lunch will help support the ministry here) and then listen to a Turkish pastor about what it is like to live as a Christian in a country where 99.9% of its citizens are Muslim. Afterwards, we will have free time to walk in the quaint restored area of the old harbor, also enjoying the view of the very port from which Paul sailed. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Antalya. (B,D)

Jan 21 Sun Atallia (Antalya), Colossae, Laodicea - Pamukkale
Enjoy this morning the scenic drive north over the Taurus Mountains to the Lycus Valley where three important biblical cities are to be found: Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis. Our first stop in Colossae will be brief, since this site has not yet been excavated. Nevertheless, this is an important site for Christians to visit, since Paul sent here two letters: one to the church of Colossae and one to the rich Christian slave-owner Philemon, who hosted the Colossian church in his home. Our second stop is Laodicea. Although the excavation work is still in its early stages, Laodicea was a major city in Roman times, as is clear from not only the size of the ancient site but also its two theatres, stadium, aqueduct and major street lined with shops. Laodicea is not only the last of the seven churches to whom John directed the book of Revelation (Rev. 3:14-22), but it also had a close relationship with the nearby churches of Colossae and Hierapolis (Col. 4:13-15) and was the recipient of one of Paul’s now lost letters (Col. 4:16). Our last visit is to Hierapolis. With its hot thermal springs well-known already in the ancient world for its medicinal qualities as well its spectacular white travertine terraces, Hierapolis remains just as popular with travelers today as it was in biblical times. Equally impressive, however, are the remains of the ancient city: the Arch of Domitian, a colonnaded street and marketplace, ancient baths, a 20,000-seat theatre built in 200 BC, the largest ancient graveyard in Anatolia containing over 1,200 tombs, tumuli and sarcophagi, and the Martyrium of St. Philip, a 5th century AD structure on the site where Philip—either the apostle or the evangelist (Acts 6:1-7; 21:8-9; Acts of Philip)—was believed to have been killed in AD 80. Overnight in one of the nearby modern resorts of Pammukale whose thermal baths are sure to revive your tired body!

Jan 22 Mon Pamukkale – Ephesus – Izmir
Drive west to Selcuk town to visit Ephesus. The former glory of this city can still today be easily appreciated from its well-preserved streets, temples, fountains, public baths, terraced houses and theatres. Ephesus was also the site of the Artemis temple—one of seven wonders of the ancient world. There is the same theatre where some 24,000 citizens of Ephesus gathered shouting “Great is Artemis!” in a riot started in response to Paul’s ministry there. The apostle visited this city only briefly during his second missionary journey (Acts 18:18-21) but returned during his third missionary journey for a much longer period of two years and three months (Acts 19:1-20:1). Timothy later served as pastor in this city during which time Paul wrote him two letters (1 & 2 Timothy). Some years later Ephesus served as the home base for the apostle John’s ministry from where he wrote a number of letters (1, 2, 3 John) and to which he sent the Book of Revelation. Dinner and overnight Izmir. (B,D)

Jan 23 Tue Departure – Fly back to Atlanta
Transfer to Izmir Airport – Fly back to Atlanta via Istanbul. Arrive Atlanta same day at 7:50 pm.

• Atlanta – Istanbul – Atlanta roundtrip International Flight
• Istanbul-Cappadica Domestic Flight
• Izmir - Istanbul Domestic Flight
• Sightseeing as per the itinerary
• 2 nights at Moevenpick Golden Horn Hotel in Istanbul or similar
• 2 nights at Yusuf Yigitoglu Boutique Hotel in Cappadocia or similar
• 1 night at Anemon Hotel in Konya or similar
• 2 nights at Best Western Khan Hotel in Antalya or similar
• 1 night at Doga Thermal Hotel in Pamukkale or similar
• 1 night at İzmir Kordon Çankaya Hotel in İzmir or similar
• Daily open buffet breakfasts at the hotels
• 9 dinners at the hotels
• Entrance fees to all sightseeing
• Government Licensed, Bible-oriented Tour guide throughout the tour
(Mr. Cenk Eronat)
• Map of Turkey, Tutku t-shirt, electric plug, Luggage Tag
• Tips to hotel staff
• Service charges and local taxes

• Lunches and drinks
• Tips to tour guide, and driver
• Turkish Visa Fee-to be obtained online before arrival www.evisa.gov.tr
• Personal Expenses, Travel and Health Insurance, any other item which is not included above